Revolutionary year of 1989 focus of new Jan Šibík exhibition in Prague

Jan Šibík 1989, a photography exhibition now running in Prague, brings to
life some of the most dramatic moments of that momentous period. Šibík,
who was then in his mid-20s, succeeded in capturing the police brutality
that sparked the Velvet Revolution – as well as events that foreshadowed
and followed it.

Jan Šibík, photo: ČTK/Michal Krumphanzl
Water cannon on Old Town Square, unarmed protestors eye to eye with riot
police and the moment Václav Havel embraced Alexander Dubček on learning
that the Communist leadership had stood down on November 24, 1989.

These are just some of the 80-plus black and white images currently on show
in the exhibition Jan Šibík 1989 at the Old Town Hall in Prague.
The first of four sections focuses on the year or two leading up to
November 1989.
It includes a striking image of demonstrators facing off against Communist
police near Sparta Prague football stadium in one of the few protests that
preceded the Velvet Revolution.

Šibík, now one of the country’s top documentary photographers, recalled
the moment to Czech Radio.

“There was a red sky over Prague Castle and I wanted to connect those
people with the policemen. So I climbed up on to a small column, which I
still remember when I pass it today.

“I felt I needed to capture both sides. That’s why so many of my photos
are from behind the police, looking toward demonstrators.

“Other photographers even asked me if I had a deal with the police. But
that was impossible unless you worked for them.”

The other sections of Jan Šibík 1989 focus on the Velvet Revolution and
its aftermath and the fall of communism in East Germany and Romania.

The photographer, who was 26 at the time, says the latter revolution had
the biggest emotional impact on him.

“The revolution in Romania was the bloodiest. Initially they spoke about
tens of thousands of victims.

“Naturally I did some research to make sure the number was accurate and
in the end there were 1,104 victims on the side of the demonstrators.